Google Messages Now Supports Live Location Sharing

After years of anticipation, Google Messages now allows users to share their real-time location directly within the app. This feature, rolling out to Android users globally as of March 2026, brings Google Messages in line with other popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, which have offered similar functionality for several years. Google Messages Finally Lets You Share Your Live Location.

How Real-Time Location Sharing Works

The new feature enables users to broadcast their current location to contacts within a Google Messages conversation, eliminating the require to switch to Google Maps or copy and paste links. The map updates continuously as the user moves, providing a dynamic view of their whereabouts. How to share your real-time location in Google Messages on Android.

Sharing Options and Duration

Users have granular control over how long their location is shared. Four duration options are available:

• For 1 hour: Location sharing lasts for one hour from the moment it’s activated.
• Today only: Location sharing continues until the conclude of the current day.
• Until you turn this off: Location sharing remains active indefinitely until manually stopped.
• Custom duration: Users can set a specific time period for sharing, with a maximum duration of 24 hours.

Sharing can be stopped at any time with a single tap. Share your real-time location in Google Messages.

Accessing the Feature

The real-time location sharing feature is accessible through the “+” menu within a conversation in Google Messages. Users simply select “real-time location sharing,” set the desired duration, and send. The recipient will then see a live-updating map within the chat. Google Messages get live location sharing on Android.

RCS and Privacy Considerations

This feature is part of RCS (Rich Communication Services), Google’s modern messaging standard intended to replace SMS. RCS already supports features like read receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media sharing. Google emphasizes privacy controls, giving users full control over who can view their location and for how long. How to share your real-time location in Google Messages on Android.

Availability

The feature is currently rolling out to Google Messages users on both Android phones, including versions messages.android_20260306_02_RC03 on Google Pixel phones and messages.android_20260310_00_RC00.phone_samsung_dynamic on Samsung Galaxy phones. How to share your real-time location in Google Messages on Android.